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Montreal Canadiens 2015-16 by the Numbers

By Mat Germain |

Montreal Canadiens 2015-16 by the Numbers

It’s been a whirlwind start for the Montreal Canadiens this season as they’ve held off opponents to achieve their 8-0-0 start. The team doesn’t seem to be slowing down at all, instead seeming to gain momentum and confidence each game they play. Whether it’s Carey Price or Mike Condon minding the net, they’ve been able to outdo opponents and win in convincing fashion.

To get as fair an assessment of how well the team is really doing in comparison to last season, I’ll put up their statistical achievements this year as compared to last year’s totals.

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As you can see the Habs have achieved significant improvements in all areas aside from FOW%. And that’s comparing this season’s stats to a season that saw the Habs finish first in their division with a total of 110 points. What an impressive start to the season.

What about the personal statistics?

  • Tomas Plekanec, Max Pacioretty, and Andrei Markov: tied for 9th in NHL with 9 points
  • Brendan Gallagher and P.K. Subban: only 1 point behind, tied for 17th in NHL
  • Habs hold top 5 +/- players in the league ranging from Markov at +14 to Gallagher at +8. Remainder of NHL is +7 or under.
  • P.K. Subban and Tomas Plekanec are tied for 2nd in NHL in even strength points
  • Max Pacioretty is 2nd in the league with 1.3 OPS and Plekanec is right behind at 1.2
  • P.K. Subban and Andrei Markov lead the NHL in DPS with 1.4 a piece, double the next best at 0.7
  • Carey Price leads all goaltenders with a 2.1 GPS (Goalie Point Share)
  • Andrei Markov (2.3), Carey Price (2.1), and P.K. Subban (2.0) lead the NHL in Point Shares

It doesn’t matter which angle you take statistically speaking, the Habs are amongst the best in all categories. Their top defensive pairing and top forward line in particular have joined Carey Price in providing the team with all-star worthy performances. That’s made all of the difference in each game, and you can attribute it to the effectiveness of the other lines. Teams can’t simply shut down the top Habs line anymore. They have to protect against all of their lines which give teams fits in all situations.

Oct 20, 2015; Montreal, Quebec, CAN; Montreal Canadiens goalie Carey Price (31) makes a save against St. Louis Blues center David Backes (not pictured) during the first period at Bell Centre. Mandatory Credit: Jean-Yves Ahern-USA TODAY Sports

Carey Price, meanwhile, is getting some help from Mike Condon this season. It’s hard to estimate whether Dustin Tokarski would have been able to provide the Habs with 2 wins thus far, but between Condon and Price, the Habs have had a goaltending duo that any NHL would love to have. Key saves at key times in the games, high saves% (.966 for Price and .947 for Condon), and the best GAA in the league at 1.12. The league average for GAA is 2.65, an indication of how dominant the Habs duo has been.

If you can find anything to complain about this season for the Habs, you are definitely knit-picking what has been an incredible season. The leadership of this team and its depth are finally looking complete, focused, and more balanced than ever. They’ve allowed 1 goal or none in 5 of their 8 games, a direct result of their hard work and disciplined play.

The end of this winning streak doesn’t seem to be in sight yet, so we’ll continue to enjoy the rewards of their hard work. The Habs are setting themselves up for a better chance to make the playoffs at this point and it looks like they’re going to be hard to stop. Enjoy this run Habs fans, it’s a historical run and you don’t get to enjoy those often.

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